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Film Biography
The purpose of this guide is to help you research people association with films: actors, actresses, directors, cinematographers, and more. This guide is a selective list of sources; Carrier Library has many additional film studies resources.
All online resources in this guide are also found in the Research Databases and Resources pages unless otherwise indicated.
General Biography
Check LEO Library Catalog to find books and videos about specific individuals. Do a subject search using that person's name as a subject heading:
Subject search: CHAPLIN, CHARLIE
All Movie Guide (AMG) (http://www.allmovie.com)
Includes biographical information for film personnel. Good source for identifying awards and connections with other film personnel.
Large fulltext source for biographies. Includes biographies reprinted from various biographical dictionaries and magazine. Also includes websites and, frequently, a photograph. Excellent choice for brief and lengthy biographical articles, filmographies, and bibliographies for more reading. Basic searches are for specific individuals. Biographical Facts Search lets you look for individuals by occupations including actor, actress, animator, cinematographer, director, producer, and screenwriter.
The Film Encyclopedia (Carrier Ref PN1993.45 K34 2001)
Well-respected encyclopedia by Katz covers topics related to film, actors, directors, specific films, and much more. Lists film credits for each person.
Film Literature Index (Online and Carrier Reference Index Table 4)
Indexes film and television articles and reviews in scholarly and popular periodicals. The online version includes publications from 1976 to 2004. The print equivalent covers 1973 to 1975 and is shelved on Carrier Library Reference Index Table 4.
International Dictionary of Film and Filmmakers (Carrier Ref PN1997.8 .I58 2000 and online)
A four-volume set, the second volume is dedicated to directors, the third volume is for actors and actresses, and the fourth volume is for writers and production artists. The entries are substantive and list articles and books for further reading.
Contains information about actors, actresses, directors, and other film personnel. Includes personal information, trivia, filmographies, photographs, bibliographies (see the “publicity” link), brief news items, and more.
The New Biographical Dictionary of Film (Carrier Ref PN1998.2 .T49 2002)
Substantive entries about actors, actresses, and directors.
Actors & Actresses
In addition to the general biographical sources listed in the previous section, the following sources can be used to find biographical and critical information about actresses and actors.
The Name is Familiar: Who Played Who in the Movies? (Carrier Ref PN1995.9 .C36 N696 1993)
Find out which actresses and actors have played particular characters.
Quinlan's Character Stars (Carrier Ref PN1998.2 .Q55 2004)
Quinlan’s Film Stars (Carrier Ref PN1998 .A2 Q57 2000)
Brief entries but each one includes a photograph and filmography.
[Screen World Presents] the Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors (Carrier Ref PN1998.2 .S38 2003)
Substantive entries on actors and actresses, along with a photo for each.
Silent players: a Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses (Carrier Ref PN1998.2 .S547 2002)
Find a photo, essay and references to learn more for prominent silent film stars.
Who Was Who on Screen (Carrier Ref PN1998 A2 T73 1977)
Very brief biographical information and a filmography. Covers 9000 names spanning from 1905 to 1975.
Who’s Who in Hollywood (Carrier Ref PN1998 .A2 R3 1992)
Entries are more popular than scholarly, but they indicate the performer’s significant appearances and typecasting.
Directors, Cinematographers & Others
The following sources can be used to find biographical and critical information about directors, cinematographers, producers, animators, and other film personnel.
Cinema: A Critical Dictionary, The Major Film-makers (Carrier Ref PN1993.45 C5 1980)
Lengthy articles about various film-makers and topics, such as American Avant-Garde Cinema.
Contemporary North American Film Directors (Carrier Ref PN1998.2 .C68 2002)
Substantive entries for directors from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Dictionary of Film Makers (Carrier Ref PN1993.45 .S313)
Translated from the French, this dictionary is particularly good for lesser known, older directors and cinematographers.
The Encyclopedia of Filmmakers (Carrier Ref PN1998.2 .T53 2002)
Lengthy entries about filmmakers with photographs.
A Library of Film Criticism: American Film Directors (Carrier Ref PN1995.9 P7 H57)
Covers 65 American film directors. Gives excerpts from important criticisms. Includes a filmography for each director.
Quinlan’s Film Directors (Carrier Ref PN1998.2 .Q565 1999)
Brief entries with filmographies and some photographs.
Reel Black Talk: a Sourcebook of 50 American Filmmakers (Carrier Stacks PN1998.2 .M66 1997)
Reel Women: Pioneers of the Cinema, 1896 to the Present (Carrier Ref PN1998.2 .A24 1991)
World Film Directors (Carrier Ref PN1998.2 .W67 1987)
Lengthy entries for directors from around the world.
This page last reviewed by Jennifer Keach on 12/19/2008
